Question Time

Prisoner Support and Treatment

The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:29): My questions are to the Minister for Correctional Services:

1. What was the average length of time that forensic mental health patients were held in one of South Australia's correctional facilities, pursuant to section 269V of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935, in the 2015-16 financial year?

2. What was the average daily cost of detaining one of these patients in a correctional facility in the 2015-16 financial year?

3. How much did it cost in total to detain forensic mental health patients in correctional facilities in the 2015-16 financial year?

4. How does this cost contrast with the costs incurred for the previous financial year, and what is the estimated cost for this financial year?

5. Does the Department for Health and Ageing reimburse the Department for Correctional Services for the costs in part, or in whole?

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:30): I thank the honourable member for his question and his ongoing interest in forensic patients who are in the custody of Corrections. Being rather specific questions in nature I will have to take those on notice, and I will endeavour to get those answers back to him as soon as possible.

I note that there was a thorough examination of a whole range of different costs and questions that came out of the estimates process that we had earlier in the week, and such questions weren't raised, but I am more than happy to ask them of the department, and take them on notice, and get a response back as soon as possible. One other bit of information: I can advise that as at 29 June this year 2016, there were 15 forensic patients in prison.